title: Changes in intragastric bile acid composition in patients receiving cimetidine postoperatively.
abstract: Enterogastric reflux has been implicated as a possible etiologic mechanism in gastritis both after partial gastrectomy and in those with an intact pylorus. We studied the effects of cimetidine on bile acid concentration and composition by high-performance liquid chromatography. The gastric aspirates collected for this study came from 27 prospectively randomized patients receiving intravenous cimetidine (200 mg every 6 hours) and 25 patients given a placebo. Total bile acid concentration of aspirates was determined spectrophotometrically. Marked differences were noted in conjugated bile acids. Glycochenodeoxycholic acid, a toxic dihydroxy bile acid, was decreased after cimetidine compared with results from the placebo. The ratio of less toxic trihydroxylated to more toxic dihydroxylated bile acids was significantly increased. Enterogastric reflux itself seemed unaltered by cimetidine; likewise, the concentration of total bile acids in the cimetidine group was similar to that among patients receiving placebo. These changes in bile salt composition with cimetidine may help explain its salutary effects in gastritis, over and above its ability to reduce gastric hydrogen ion secretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucky 40292.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Siow
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Cheadle
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuschierei
mesh_terms: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000032:analysis*; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004383:Duodenogastric Reflux / Q000517:prevention & control; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000032:analysis*; D005999:Glycochenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D005999:Glycochenodeoxycholic Acid; D002927:Cimetidine